Tag: weight training

There are many different approaches today on how to teach pitchers how to improve their pitching velocity and still develop good mechanics. However, few rely on evidence based sports science research methods to verify why those methods work. Here are some principles to follow that not only make sense but are based on a more…

Should baseball pitchers be doing explosive strength exercises such as Olympic lifts or any type of heavy weight lifting in order to enhance pitching velocity? Pitchers are being told that Olympic lifts or explosive weight lifting exercises help pitchers improve pitching velocity. However, there is no reliable evidence that Olympic lifts or heavy weight training…

What are the elements that help baseball pitchers improve their pitching velocity? Most baseball coaches would have you believe that pitchers can improve their pitching velocity by simply adding more full body strength or arm strength. Pitching instructors will tell parents that their son’s velocity will just come in time. But the question parents should…

The following study is, of course, going to get me into more trouble with all the belief based instructors out there. That includes all the strength coaches who want you to believe that if your son improves his core strength he will automatically throw with more velocity. But they cannot prove it. It is simply…

Every high school pitcher wants to maximize his overall pitching potential. Improving pitching velocity is very high on the list of most high school pitchers. Long Toss – The Weight Room is NOT the Answer for Increased Velocity Most pitchers are sent on a wild goose chase by instructors and coaches every season. These well-intentioned…

I happen to be an information nut. What I have found over the years is that there is a lot of misinformation everywhere. Surprisingly, some of it comes from main stream medicine, not just baseball. For example, we have been told to stay out of the sun, or at least put on plenty of sunscreen,…

I have written a lot about why long toss is not a valuable practice activity for pitchers. The recent study by the American Sports Medicine Institute pretty much confirms what I have been saying since 2004. I have read the entire study and it confirms that long toss (180 feet or more) does not offer…

In 2004, I started following sports science research as it applies to pitching. The sports science research overwhelmingly contradicts the large majority of what coaches and instructors are teaching to help pitchers improve. This is largely because baseball is a belief-based sport that relies on 25 years of tradition rather than scientific analysis. However, in…

Strategy Is Crucial Almost every amateur pitcher and many minor league pitchers would like to improve their pitching velocity. But using the right strategy is the key to success or failure. Most pitchers are wasting over 50% or more of their practice time using methods that will not have much impact on improving their velocity….

Is long toss a solution for improving velocity, or a big reason why pitchers cannot improve it? What about weighted baseballs? I have written endlessly about long toss and why it will not improve a pitcher’s velocity as much as mound pitching will. The same goes for weighted baseballs. And yet, coaches and pitchers alike…

There are thousands upon thousands of Little League, high school and college pitchers who could dramatically improve their velocity by simply improving their pitching mechanics. Here is a high school senior who recently came to us from a small town in Arkansas because his older brother saw some potential for us to improve his velocity…

Conditioning the baseball pitcher for power and explosiveness does not require much time at all in the weight room. In fact, after some general strength is built over 4-5 weeks, there is no need to go back to the weight room. General strength is only required to condition the body to do explosive exercises such…

Here are pitching training exercises that are not only more functional for pitching but very specific to helping build better movement skills for improving pitching mechanics. These are far more beneficial for helping pitchers develop power with flexibility rather than typical weight room exercises such as two-legged squats, leg press, leg curl or leg extension….

Most pitching instructors are doing a below average job of helping pitchers improve. If they are not videotaping and explaining problems and why these problems need fixing without using pitching drills then these instructors are guessing and wasting your money. Videotaping Is Crucial For Pitching Improvement This pitcher was taught by a former pro to…

There are common features of high velocity throwers that you will not see in most high school or college pitchers, certainly not Little League pitchers. High Velocity Pitchers Have Much In Common Here is video comparison of Royal’s Zach Greinke and Red Sox Daniel Bard that shows features that are similar in both pitchers. Notice…

To improve pitching velocity the large majority of pitchers need to improve their mechanics, not their strength. Research has proven that strength is not much of a factor when it comes to pitching velocity. After all, there are 10-year-old Little League pitchers who can throw 70 and 12-year-olders who can throw 80. One of the most…

Many Little League, high school and college pitchers have sore arms or constantly pitch with pain. In fact, about 45% of Little League pitchers and 60% of high school pitchers pitch with arm pain. Most Little League Pitchers Pitch With Pain But what is the cause? In most cases, pitching arm pain is the result…

This video reveals a common fault in many high school and college pitchers that reduces velocity and adds stress the arm. The 18-year-old college freshman pitcher in this video shows a common fault that may be reducing his velocity by at least 5 mph. His father brought him to us just last week from Michigan to…

Why do so many high school and college pitchers never maximize their pitching velocity? I believe it is because most are wasting time on practice activities that do not lead to improvement, such as long toss, or trying to get bigger and stronger. Video Analysis Is Of Major Importance The other reason is that coaches…

Most coaches today believe that arm strength is an important factor in producing more pitching velocity. This is why most coaches advise that pitchers use long toss or weight training as overall conditioning tools to increase pitching velocity. However, science has finally disproved the belief that pitching velocity is related mostly to arm or shoulder muscle strength….

Bringing The Gap Between Fundamentals & Innovations In Pitching.

In 2004 we developed the first evidence-based pitching program based on sports science research, instead of common coaching beliefs. Through this research we've also learned video analysis is still the best and most accurate way to assess pitching mechanics. We not only show pitchers at all levels their faults and the adjustments, but work with there style in order to improve their velocity and control, all while reducing their risk of arm injuries. The true difference about our coaching methods are simple, our clients will truly feel the difference and that's the only true way towards improvement and development.